Steps to Quality

IdahoSTARS offers a sustainable plan for the growth of a business and measures the developing quality of a child care program. We then publicly recognize a program’s success and share it with families throughout Idaho. The goal of Steps to Quality is to help Idaho’s child care programs provide a setting where all children thrive. At each step, we’ll help programs grow quality in the following areas:

• Health and safety
• Staff education
• Classrooms and playground
• Inclusion of all children
• Partnerships with families and communities
• Professional business practices

Participation in Steps to Quality is a smart choice which demonstrates a program’s commitment to excellence in child care. Space in Steps to Quality is limited, so plant the seed today!

Children benefit from high quality early care and education. Steps to Quality is a voluntary system for child care centers and and home-based programs. Programs participating in Steps to Quality work with regional Quality Consultants to assess, improve, and communicate quality practices. Participation in Steps to Quality is one of the best choices your child care program can make to demonstrate its commitment to quality.

• Welcome to Steps to Quality
• Step 1
• Step 2
• Step 3
• Step 4
• Step 5
• Step 6

Steps to Quality Parent Letter WORD

Steps to Quality Parent Talking Points PDF

STEP 1 Focus is on Health and Safety, supported by Essential Training.

Step 1 Attendance Sheet for Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention PDF

Video: Reporting Child Abuse - Care Enough to Call

STEP 2 Focuses on building a strong foundation of quality supported by Essential Training.

Step 2 Safe Sleep Checklist PDF

Step 2 Strengthening Families Self-Assessment PDF

STEP 3 Programs are Star Rated with a staff continuing their professional development, assessments offer accountability for programs meeting national standards and indicators of quality.

Step 3 Nutrition and Active Physical Play Checklist PDF

Step 3 Authorization to Disclose Information WORD

Step 3 Vision & Action Plan Food and Nutrition PDF

Step 3 Vision & Action Plan Physical Activity PDF

Step 3 Thinking Active Physical Play Inventory PDF

Step 3 Developing an Inclusion Statement and Policy PDF

STEP 4 Programs have implemented quality child care and business practices, continuing professional development for all staff.

STEP 5 Programs are thriving as a child care business, nurturing all children with quality early care and education experiences.

NAEYC Teacher-Child Ratio Chart PDF

Talking Points for NAEYC Teacher-Child Ratio PDF

Child Inclusion Plan PDF

STEP 6 Programs and staff are firmly rooted in quality, achieving national accreditation standards that meet the highest levels of quality.

QRIS Growing Quality. Step 6 for CentersPDF

QRIS Growing Quality. Step 6 for Home Based ProvidersPDF